No. 3 Freightliner Dallara/Chevrolet – Scott McLaughlin
Start: 1st – Third career NTT P1 Award, 62nd career Team Penske pole position (most all time)
Finish: 1st – Third career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory
Laps Led: 104
Point Standings: 5th (-41 pts)
Race Rundown: Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Freightliner Chevrolet team cruised to their third win of the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway on Sunday afternoon. The New Zealander started from the pole position and was never seriously challenged throughout most of the race until the first caution flag of the day at Lap 85 bunched the field back together. Over the final 20 laps of the 110-lap event, McLaughlin could see teammate Will Power and third-place finisher Scott Dixon in his rear view mirror, but he was able to keep both former series champions at bay. McLaughlin will enter the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca next weekend with a shot at the 2022 championship in just his second, full season competing in the INDYCAR SERIES. McLaughlin will enter the race ranked fifth in the standings, 41 points behind teammate and series leader, Will Power.
McLaughlin’s Thoughts: “I don’t think the car really felt good in that first stint but as the race went on, it got a little bit worse. I just had to really concentrate on where I wanted the strengths of the car to be and work with those and make the best of the weaknesses. The Freightliner Chevy all weekend has been fast. It’s been right there where we needed. This team – the Thirsty Threes – got the job done in the pits, and I’m really proud of them. We did exactly what we needed to do this weekend, which was win and get max points to keep ourselves in the championship fight. Yeah we’re a longshot. I don’t care because we have a shot so I’m looking forward to it.”
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
